Western North Carolina Fly Shop and Guide Service

Hookers Fly Shop is located in the heart of WNC surrounded by some of the most scenic streams in the US. Our shop and guide service is located in Downtown Sylva, which happens to be in the center of the world famous WNC Fly Fishing Trail. Here you can easily access over 15 hot spots, which include 22 streams and rivers that are listed on the trail. Some streams are just a few minutes away while other more remote streams are 30-40 mins away. Check out our destinations page to read more about the WNC Fly Fishing Trail.

Beautiful Wild Brown caught and released in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Our shop is also conveniently located near the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee Reservation including the Raven Fork Trophy Waters. Our trip leader, Jason Cole, grew up fishing the Smokies and the Cherokee area but now calls Sylva his home. If you are looking for a 1/2, 3/4 or full day trip to the Smokies or Cherokee just ask for Jason. He also runs our backcountry trips to remote areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as many Nantahala and Pisgah National Forest destinations. Jason has over 30 years experience in backcountry wilderness settings. He has a degree in Outdoor Leadership and he is Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified.

Hookers Fly Shop is also conveniently located just two miles from the wade and float sections of the Tuckasegee River Delayed Harvest. Between Oct. and early June you can find our guides leading wade and float trips down this section of river. It would be hard to find guides that spend more time on this river than us. With three boats in our lineup we can offer up to three float trips each day for up to six anglers. The river boasts the heaviest stocking of all the NC Delayed Harvest Streams and will not disappoint. This section of river is easy enough for the beginning angler and it will even challenge the most avid fly fishermen and women. While many other hatchery supported streams close during the month of March the Tuckasegee Delayed Harvest remains open all year. However, the best fly fishing is done between the first week of Oct. and the first week of June. The first Sat. in June the river will lose its catch and release restrictions and open for harvest.

*Remember that all Hatchery Supported Waters (marked by the green and white signs) are closed the month of March and reopen the first Sat. in April.*

Nice Smallie on a Float Trip on the Lower Tuckasegee River

Our guided service also offers guided wade or float Smallmouth trips on the Tuckasegee River and the Little Tennessee River. These trips are a favorite among anglers in the Spring, Summer and early Fall. While it is nice catching wild trout or big 25-30 inch stocked trout you will not find a harder fitting fish pound for pound than the Smallmouth Bass. We have had clients catch these bad boys in the 6 pound range. It is not uncommon to take one of our floats and catch 25 or more of these wonderful fish. Also, on these trips you will likely hook into Rainbow and Brown trout as well as big walleye. Perch and red-eye bass are also caught on these trips along with the occasional muskie.